Enriching lives through participation in music
Music Therapy Services of West Music
Music Therapy in Marion & Cedar Falls
11/04/24
Marion may have been the second location to offer music therapy services, but it was first to provide an actual studio space and is the birthplace of the internship program.
Meet Noelle!
Noelle joined the West Music team in August of 2021 after completing her internship at West Music. She knew she wanted to be a music therapist after seeing the impact music had on her late grandfather who had Alzheimer’s disease. Noelle works with a variety of populations including hospice patients and individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, but working with older adults holds a special place in her heart. When she is not with her clients, Noelle enjoys taking her dog Ollie on walks, hand embroidering, writing letters to friends, and spending time with loved ones.
Meet Hayley!
Hayley, MA, MT-BC joined the West Music team in 2019 and works in the Cedar Rapids area. Her favorite thing about being a music therapist is the opportunity to get to know such a wide variety of people and use music to build meaningful connections. She feels fortunate to learn from people from all walks of life and loves getting to be creative daily. When not music therapizing, Hayley is a clarinetist and enjoys exploring nature, drinking coffee, and spending time with loved ones.
Keystone Cedars
Keystone Cedars is a nursing care facility that has received music therapy care since 2013. Co-Life Enrichment Director, Haley, says, “I knew how much [the Memory Care residents] enjoyed music on a level they could keep up with. When we first brought music therapy in, we fell in love with it. It’s been a staple ever since!”
Facility staff say that the residents look forward to this activity that “puts a smile on their faces” and provides opportunities for exercise and reminiscing as they sing along to favorite songs.
Residents say that they appreciate that their therapist knows them individually and greets them each by name in an opening song. They like that she always has something new and that they get to try unique instruments.
Haley concludes, “We appreciate all that our music therapist does and her patience. She is full of energy! I appreciate how she takes her time and doesn’t rush the residents if they don’t do something correctly. I’m sure the residents would love to have music therapy everyday!”
Ryan's Story
Ryan started receiving music therapy services from West Music back when he was a toddler and continues to participate in sessions even now at his group home.
Jeff and Kirsten, Ryan’s parents, love coming to music therapy sessions. Both love seeing the joy Ryan displays when participating in music therapy, they see this experience as one of “the big things in life” and say it is of “high value to him” but also to them.
Kirsten says, “Music therapy provides an opportunity for Ryan and his housemates to participate in a multi-sensory activity. I strongly believe that music is healing and drives other learning. Plus, it is emotive.”
Jeff says that he appreciates how music therapy provides Ryan and his peers “individual opportunities to participate at their own levels [and] capabilities.”
Cedar Falls has had music therapy services since the late 1990’s, with contractual therapists working locally or therapists from Cedar Rapids driving to serve the area.
Meet Lucy!
Lucy started at West Music in 2009, and she is passionate about working with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, older adults, and patients & families facing end-of-life. Lucy was interested in pursuing a different career path than her older siblings had pursued in music, so when she learned that music therapy intentionally shares the elements of music to enhance people’s lives through a therapeutic relationship, she knew it was the career for her! Lucy works to gain legislative recognition for music therapists in the State of Iowa, and enjoys spending time with her family.
Music Therapy in Preschools
Linda Jacoby learned about music therapy in the 1990s as she observed numerous immediate benefits. When she became the Director of Cedar Valley Preschool and Child Care Center (CVPCCC), she raised money to make music therapy part of the children’s routine.
When CVPCCC re-opened after the COVID-19 shutdown, music therapy was the first service Linda sought to restart to provide a sense of normalcy and joy for the children. She received a grant to fund music therapy sessions outdoors – during one of those sessions, a child observed, “The birds are singing with us, too!”
Linda sees music therapy as “bringing the world to the children when they can’t get out into the world.” Linda observes the development of life-long skills such as following directions and turn-taking. Her favorite music therapy applications include marching with instruments in indoor parades, re-writing songs with the children’s own lyrics, and a soothing “Rainstick Song.”
